Marti Funnell, MS, RN, CDE - On the Healing Track of Diabetes Care

Martha Funnell of Ann Arbor, Michigan, never knew the grandfather family members would speak of so fondly. Sadly, due to an early death from type 2 diabetes complications, he passed away before she was born. She would, however, grow up learning a lot about a very serious disease called diabetes.

So at a very young age, Martha's diabetes education started. And it has continued.

Today, "Marti" as she is better known, is a clinical nurse specialist, diabetes educator, and adjunct lecturer in the University of Michigan School of Nursing and Director for Administration at the Michigan Diabetes Research and Training Center.

Her professional efforts have been committed to the development, evaluation and dissemination of educational programs in patient empowerment and collaborative approaches to diabetes care and education, culturally specific interventions and the development of patient education curricula.

Marti has also earned a number of honors and awards, including the American Diabetes Association Outstanding Educator in Diabetes Award. She has more than 100 publications to her credit, including several books and book chapters, journal articles, and curricula published by the ADA. One of her highest professional priorities and passions is diabetes research.

"Keeping up on research is incredibly important as I educate patients and health professionals," Marti explained enthusiastically. "Whenever I am teaching, the phrase that I most often use when asked any question is 'a recent study shows' or 'we know from research that.'

"The choices are about how individuals will care for themselves or about how they will care effectively for patients. People need the kind of evidence that we get from research studies if they are going to make wise decisions."

This explains why Marti is so passionate about diabetes research and why she started volunteering for the ADA more than 20 years ago. In 1983, after working in diabetes care for only two weeks, Marti began her affiliation with the Association when she attended her first ADA Scientific Sessions in San Antonio, Texas.

"I love talking about the research that we do at our Center and about the importance of the research that is funded by the ADA," Marti explained. "I think of research as a jigsaw puzzle. Each piece brings us closer to the finished picture. For those of us in diabetes, that picture is a cure.

"Knowing that every minute of every day there are researchers working around the world to find pieces of the puzzle is very inspirational for me and I try to share that inspiration."

In turn, Marti inspires others.

"People with diabetes often feel helpless and hopeless. As a diabetes educator, my job is to help improve the lives of people with diabetes, to give them hope," she stated.

What Marti has also given to the ADA is a deeply inspired commitment beyond measure. For more than 20 years, Marti had served in countless volunteer capacities and within all levels of the organization -- local, state, regional and national. Working alongside fellow ADA volunteer leadership and senior management, she has contributed priceless organizational and clinical expertise.

And as a member of both the Pinnacle Society and Summit Circle, Marti is also making a financial commitment to the ADA mission and its impact on millions of people living with diabetes today. She is driven by a heartfelt desire to find the treatments that will stem the growing diabetes epidemic.

"I always tell people and I truly believe that the ADA offers help for today and hope for a healthier future and, best of all, a future without diabetes."